State Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, second from left, responds to a reporters question concerning a plan to provide legal help for unaccompanied children from Central American, during a Capitol news conference, Thursday, Aug. 21, 2014, in Sacramento, Calif. Supported by Gov. Jerry Brown, Attorney General Kamala Harris, legislative leaders and the Latino Legislative Caucus, the proposed legislation will provide $3 million to help the estimated 57,000 unaccompanied children who have been caught crossing into the U.S. illegally since Oct. 1. Also seen are Democratic

Rich Pedroncelli

Copyright 2014 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

SACRAMENTO — Seeking to act before the Legislature adjourns next week, Gov. Jerry Brown and legislative leaders announced Thursday they will try to push through urgency measures to ensure children who emigrated from Central America by themselves receive due process as they seek asylum to stay in the United States.

The measures would appropriate $3 million in state funding for nonprofit legal aid groups to represent children at immigration hearings, and would clarify that state courts in California must process requests to consider whether a child’s life would be endangered if sent back to his or her country.

Although state court determinations are not binding, they are required by federal courts when considering a request to issue a Special Immigrant Juvenile Status Visa.

If granted such status, children become eligible for an expedited naturalization process.

“Helping these young people navigate our legal system is the decent thing to do and it’s consistent with the progressive spirit of California,” Brown said in a statement released by his office.

The proposed legislation will not change the evidentiary standards required for a California judge to make a finding that a child’s life would be endangered by deportation, said Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento. Rather, he said, it would clarify that state courts have a responsibility to accept such cases when they are petitioned to do so.

“Too many judges are denying requests because they think it’s a federal immigration issue,” he said. “We’re seeking to clarify that a state court must make that requisite finding, if appropriate.”

About 3,900 immigrant children were placed with relatives or in holding centers in California from January to July. Although the pace of immigration has slowed dramatically in recent weeks, each child must receive a federal court hearing to determine whether he or she will be sent home.

“No child should have to defend themselves in front of a judge without help,” said Sen. Norma Torres, D-Pomona. “These children are not trying to sneak under or climb over a fence. They are saying, ‘Help me. I want to live another day.’”

Lawmakers continued to work through scores of bills Thursday as the end of their 2014 session approached. Among measures sent to Brown were:

SB 910 by Sen. Fran Pavley, D-Agoura Hills, which would close what prosecutors describe as a loophole in domestic violence laws by expanding court-ordered restraining orders to include children. The bill is sponsored by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, and passed the Senate without dissent.

AB 1667 by Assemblyman Das Williams, D-Carpinteria, which would eliminate the requirement that school employees be routinely tested for tuberculosis and replace it with a risk assessment that would requiring testing only if risk factors are present.

Williams said an estimated 20 percent of California teachers falsely test positive, which leads to unnecessary and expensive follow-up tests.

AB 510 by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco, which require political ads that purport to represent views of doctors, teachers or other professionals include a statement that those people are paid spokespersons and not necessarily employed in those occupations.

SB 1183 by Sen. Mark DeSaulnier, D-Concord, which would authorize local governments to ask voters to approve tax measures to pay for bicycle infrastructure such as dedicated bike trails. The local tax measures, which would require approval of two-thirds of voters, would authorize a surcharge of up to $5 for motor vehicle registrations within that jurisdiction.

Copyright 2014 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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